Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-04-15
question OF q Liquor Agency
10 the Editor of the R.,..b..

s As"s'oT OF me Aennebec Journal.
moch surprise has been expressed that
temperance men. stAunch advocates of n,o.
hioition, should petition for an agency in on.
city 1t is really amusing, and somewhat
interesting to witness the alacrity and yea,
with which some of our temperance citizen.
are sprlnging to the rescue of our CITY from,
the impending peril of a liouer aoencv
charging some of our oldest and most faith.
ioi temperance workers with ipcons;stencv
and iavoring 'snother rum shop" wbila tbov
themselves have held entirely aloof from a.,
active co operation with some of these sama
petitioners in efforts tn suppress the o,har
rum shops we now have. l do not saw This !.
!he case with all who oppose an agency, bur
II Is the case with some who denounce the
men whose names are on that petition. Nov
iaii TO see any inconsistency in a temper
ance man asking for LIQUOR
agency. Mark what ..v
hquor agency, not "legalized rum shop. and
one OF the worst kind" The petitioners ask
Tor no such thing. but for a place where
liquors can be lawfully sold for lawful pur
poses IL Is UNJUST and untrutbful to say they
ASK ior and favor "another rum shop"
-- '0SoSuIZco, duu UOuDtleS9 q
Jority OF our temperance people believe, that
alcohol and alcoholic liquors are useful and
necessary for medicinal and mechanical pur-
poses. Now when these persons see what to
them is a necessity for their use-for proner
purposes-they are going TO get theirs some
where and somehow, and claim that the how
and where are important factors in our tenn
Perance problem. Some say ''let the people
go without them, they don't really need
them; but they honestly believe they need
them and won't go without them Others say
let them send out of the State for them.
v, Consistency! Oppose al agency in Au-
gusta, and help support rum shop in an.
other city. Oppose a nuisance (if it be
one) under your own nose and help
maintain one under somebody's else
nose-how phllanthropic. But waving the
question of consistency, the fact remains that
the majority of these persons will not send
out of the State, but will purchase their
liquors here. Now, how and where shall they
get them in Augusta? This is the simple
question. l am not asking where and how
shall they get them for drinking purposes, but
for lawful purposes. They cannot buy them
IN Augusta under any circumstances lawfully.
without an agency, they will buy them I'M
lawfully. They will feel compelled to do so
If they honestly believe them necessary
NOW 1t Is this violation of law at the request
and with the sanction of respectable men
and women that IS working a world of mis-
chlef; II encourages, strengthens and sane
tons the worst feature of the rum traffic in
our city. that which it is most difficult to
reach and suppress. that which is carried on
behind mortar and pestle. The necessity laid
on druggists to sell liquor unlaw fully for
lawful purposes, (for the sale is as necessary
as the use and purchasel not only brings
them into peril but is a temptation and license
to sell unlawfully for unlawful purposes,
and protection from prosecution for such
sales when they are made. Most of those |
have met who are opposed to an agency, claim
that liquors are necessary for the purposes
named and farther more admit that when
needed they get theirs even unlawfully.
Now how can person consistently demand
the impartial and faithful enforcement of the
prohibitory law when ne himself Is a party
to its violation. How can man who be-
lieves in the necessity of liquors for a Ger
tain purpose oppose their careful sale for
that purpose. Now is not that person most
consistent who, with the demand for the sup
preston of the unlawful sale of liquors. asks
that all license for their unlawful sale be re-
moved by providing place for their law full
sale Tor lawful purposes! Mark AGAIN what l
say Their lawful sale for Law full purposes, not
"rum shop" If our city authorities cannot
give US an agency without "fum shop" if
they cannot control al agent whom they
make and can unmake at their will, who is
without motive to violate law, when business
is always open to their and the public inspec
lion, then in the name of all that is good say
no to the prayer of the petitioners
CITIZEN.